Dion Watts
A Richmond man died earlier this month after an incident involving officers at the Madison County Detention Center sent him to the hospital, and the NAACP is calling for a thorough investigation.
Dion Watts, 42, a father of six, died at University of Kentucky Medical Center Jan. 6, according to his obituary.
The following day, the Richmond-Madison County Branch NAACP issued a statement saying he had died “after sustaining serious injuries while in the custody of the Madison County Detention Center.”
A police uniform citation filed in Madison District Court by an officer with the Richmond Police Department says Watts suffered a broken ankle and was taken to the UK hospital after an “altercation” involving officers at the detention center at 12:19 a.m. Jan. 2.
According to the citation, a Richmond police officer, R. Haddix, was leaving the jail when a deputy jailer said Watts needed to speak to Haddix.
Haddix told Watts they would talk after the officer retrieved some things from the police cruiser.
As Haddix was opening the door to come back into the jail, Haddix wrote in the citation that “Watts began to yell and slammed the door shut.”
Because Watts was holding the door shut, Haddix said staff inside the detention center opened a nearby garage door, and as door was opening, the officer saw Watts and Deputy Jailer Mark Murphy “in a physical altercation against the wall.”
Haddix wrote that “Murphy took Watts to the ground.”
“Once Murphy and Watts were on the ground, I began to assist Murphy in gaining control of Watts who was physically resisting us both,” Haddix wrote in the citation.
“During the altercation,” Haddix wrote, “Watts attempted to grab several items off of my duty vest.”
Haddix said Watts also pulled his arms away from the officers and tried to “tuck them underneath his body.”
“During the altercation, I performed several knee strikes to the back of Watts and heel palm strikes to the face in an attempt to gain control,” Haddix wrote.
Several other officers soon arrived “and assisted in handcuffing and controlling Watts,” Haddix wrote.
The citation indicates six body worn cameras were at the scene.
In addition to Watts’ broken ankle, Haddix sustained a cut to the left ring finger and Murphy sustained a cut to his right hand, the citation states.
“Dion Watts was cited and released at the University of Kentucky Hospital due to receiving medical treatment for broken ankle and other medical reasons,” the citation states.
Watts was charged Jan. 2 with resisting arrest and two counts of third-degree assault of a police or probation officer, according to court records.
The NAACP said in its statement Watts “had a documented history of mental illness.”
The statement said he “suffered injuries following a physical incident while at the Detention Center and later succumbed to those injuries. Any death resulting from injuries sustained in custody raises profound concerns about the use of force, the duty of care owed to individuals in detention, and the treatment of those with mental health needs.
“The NAACP calls for a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions of officers involved, the use-of-force protocols employed, and the timeliness and adequacy of medical and mental health care provided.
“The NAACP Richmond–Madison County Branch stands with the family as they seek answers, accountability, and justice.”
None of the documents reviewed by the Herald-Leader indicate Watts’ cause of death.
WKYT reported Madison County Jailer Larry Brock told the station there was “no evidence to suggest that Mr. Watts was beaten or subjected to any form of abuse during the incident.”
Before the altercation, Brock said, Watts appeared to be suffering from paranoia and had suggested that he thought officers intended to hurt him. Brock told the television station jail staff tried to de-escalate the situation, but Watts didn’t cooperate.
Brock told the station an internal review of the incident is being conducted.
Richmond Mayor Robert Blythe said in a statement to Fox 56 Friday that Kentucky State Police are investigating the circumstances of Watts’ death and “any action taken by the city will be guided by the findings of the investigation.”
Blythe told the television station, “our community mourns the loss of a family member and friend.”
Court records say Watts was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Dec. 31 and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing after staff at a Redi Mart on Second Street in Richmond called police to report they had closed the store and Watts refused to leave.
An officer with the Richmond Police Department wrote in a police uniform citation filed in that case that Watts was asked to leave several times, and the officer offered Watts a ride to a friend’s house or somewhere else, but Watts said he had nowhere to go and “stated he preferred to go to jail.”
Madison District Court records indicate he was released the following day, Jan. 1. One document lists the release time as 11:40 p.m. Arraignment in that case was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20, which would have been Watts’ 43rd birthday.
